This is just a short primer on the Olympic Games, with more focus on the Games Programme and its sports. The discussion below is based on the Olympic Charter[1]and “The Modern Olympic Games”[2](both published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It is hoped that the information here enlightens, encourages and prepares you to further enjoy the coming XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008.
Let the Games begin.
The Olympic Games
Let’s start with some basic rules about the Games as set forth in the Charter (Chapter I, Rule 6):
1. “The Olympic Games are competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not between countries.”
In fact, the Charter prohibits the IOC and Organizing Committee to provide medal rankings per country. (Chapter IV, Rule 58). There’s nothing they can do about media outlets doing it though.2. “The Olympic Games consist of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games. Only those sports which are practiced on snow or ice are considered as winter sports.”
By the way, the 1st Olympiad was held in 1896 in Athens, Greece while the Winter Games started only in 1924 in Chamonix, France.3. “The authority of last resort on any question concerning the Olympic Games rests with the IOC.” However, “any dispute arising on the occasion of, or in connection with, the Olympic Games shall be submitted exclusively to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in accordance with the Code of Sports-Related Arbitration.” (Chapter V, Rule 59)
4. “Notwithstanding the applicable rules and deadlines for all arbitration and appeal procedures, and subject to any other provision of the World Anti-Doping Code, no decision taken by the IOC concerning an edition of the Olympic Games … can be challenged by anyone after a period of three years from the day of the Closing Ceremony of such Games.”
Fair enough. There shouldn’t be any more controversy carried from the old Olympiad at the start of the new one.
In addition:
1. The Summer Games are held in the 1st year of an Olympiad, the Winter Games in its third year. (Chapter III, Rule 33, By-law) An Olympiad is a period of 4 consecutive calendar years, beginning on the 1st of January of the 1st year and ending on the 31st of December of the 4th year. (Chapter I, Rule 6, By-law)
2. The Olympic Games’ duration “shall not exceed sixteen days”. (Chapter III, Rule 33.1)
Now that we’ve tackled the broad topic. Let’s look into the Games’ Programme and its components.
Sport, Discipline, Event
The line up of competitions for each Olympic Games is called the Programme. Under the Charter, the Programme of the Games has 3 components: sports, disciplines and events. Sports are those sports governed by International Federations (IFs). A discipline is a branch of a sport comprising 1 or several events. An event is a competition in a sport or in one of its disciplines, resulting in a ranking and giving rise to the award of medals and diplomas. (Chapter III, Rule 46.2)
Can’t tell the difference? Let’s take Gymnastics. Gymnastics is the sport. It has 3 disciplines: Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline. Artistic Gymnastics has several events (for men and women): balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercises, horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse, rings, vault, individual all-round, and team competition. Rhythmic Gymnastics has 2 events (only for women): individual and group competition. Trampoline also only has 2 events (1 for each gender): Women’s individual and Men’s individual.
Inclusion in the Programme
Now, in order to be included on the Olympic Programme, the Olympic Charter lays down the following basic conditions which a sport has to meet:
1) the sport must be represented by an IF (Chapter III, Rule 46.2).
2) the World Anti-Doping Code must be adopted and implemented (you know, regular and random drug testing, etc.) (Chapter III, Rule 46.3); and
3) the Olympic Charter must be complied with (Chapter III, Rule 46, By-law 1.7).
“The Modern Olympic Games” add that summer sport: 1) must be widely practiced by men, in 75 countries on 4 continents, and by women in 40 countries on 3 continents; and 2) must not rely on mechanical propulsion (such as a motor). On the other hand, a winter sport must be widely practiced in at least 25 countries and on 3 continents. No distinction is made here between men and women.
By the way, IFs are “international non-governmental organizations administering one or several sports at world level and encompassing organizations administering such sports at national level.” As such, each IF “maintains independence and autonomy in the administration of its sport.” (Chapter 3, Rule 26).
The “organizations administering such sports at national level” are called National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The IFs organize the Olympic qualifying competitions while the NOCs make sure their athletes are entered to compete therein.
Sports Core
The sports included in the Summer Games Programme consist of a sports core (“the core”) and additional sports (Chapter III, Rule 46, By-law 2.1.1). The core consists of at least 25 of the sports administered by the 28 IFs below:
1) International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF); 2) International Rowing Federation (FISA); 3) International Badminton Federation (IBF); 4) International Baseball Federation (IBAF); 5) International Basketball Federation (FIBA); 6) International Boxing Association (AIBA); 7) International Canoe Federation (ICF); 8 ) International Cycling Union (UCI); 9) International Equestrian Federation (FEI); 10) International Fencing Federation (FIE); 11) International Association Football Federation (FIFA); 12) International Gymnastic Federation (FIG); 13) International Weightlifting Federation (IWF); 14) International Handball Federation (IHF); 15) International Hockey Federation (FIH); 16) International Judo Federation (IJF); 17) International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA); 18 ) International Swimming Federation (FINA); 19) International Union of the Modern Pentathlon (UIPM); 20) International Softball Federation (ISF); 21) World Taekwondo Federation (WTF); 22) International Tennis Federation (ITF); 23) International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF); 24) International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF); 25) International Archery Federation (FITA); 26) International Triathlon Union (ITU); 27) International Sailing Federation (ISAF); 28 ) International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). (Chapter III, Rule 46, By-law 2.1.2)
Since only 28 sports are allowed for each edition of the Summer Games, once the 25 sports are chosen, only 3 slots are open to be filled from the same list above and/or from Recognized Sports. (Chapter III, Rule 46, By-law 2.1.3 and 2.1.4)
Recognized Sports are those sports whose IFs have been recognized by the IOC but only provisionally.
Recognized Sports
This is off-topic but in case you’re curious, these Recognized Sports (summer and winter) are[3]: Air Sports (which meets the altius part of the motto, at least), Bandy (or field hockey on ice), Billiard Sports (now there’s the Philippines’ chance to finally get a gold), Boules (seems a distant cousin of bowling), Bowling, Bridge (??? is Monopoly next?), Chess, Cricket, DanceSport (sporty name for ballroom dancing), Golf, Karate, Korfball (Dutch basketball/netball. Main come-on is that men and women play together), Life Saving (the sport of lifeguards), Motorcycle Racing (Aren’t motors banned?), Mountaineering and Climbing (Another one for altius), Netball (close cousin of Korfball), Orienteering (to finally make some use of those scout skills), Pelote basque (Jai Alai to Filipinos), Polo, Powerboating (Again, the motors), Racquetball (Isn’t this Squash?), Roller Sports, Rugby, Squash (Isn’t this Racquetball?), Sport climbing (sporty name for indoor climbing), Surfing, Sumo (citius-fortius-magnus?), Tug of War (seriously), Underwater Sports, Water Skiing, Wushu.
Really, a good number of the IFs involved in the “sports” mentioned above should maybe just get together and hold their own Outdoors Olympics.
The Olympic Movement and Olympism
This primer will not be complete without discussing the Olympic Movement (“organizations, athletes and other persons who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter”). “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced in accordance with Olympism and its values.”(Chapter I, Rule 1)
Under the Charter, these are the Fundamental Principles of Olympism:
1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organized, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world’s athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organization, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organizations.
5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.
Competition is good, fun, healthy. It is inspiring to watch those who are Citius, Altius, Fortius. But, as embodied in the Olympic Charter, the Olympic spirit is reflected by those who practice Friendship, Solidarity and Fair Play.
[1] “Olympic Charter”. http://www.olympic.org. October 2007. International Olympic Committee. 29 Jul 2008 http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf.
[2] “The Modern Olympic Games”. http://www.olympic.org. 2007. International Olympic Committee. 29 Jul 2008http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_668.pdf.
[3] “Recognised Sports”. http://www.olympic.org. 2008. International Olympic Committee. 29 Jul 2008 http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/recognized/index_uk.asp.
No comments:
Post a Comment